US House Rejects Three-Week Funding for Department of Homeland Security

The US House of Representatives rejected the resolution that would authorize funding for the US Department of Homeland Security through March 19.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US House of Representatives did not pass a measure that would authorize funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through March 19.

“On this vote the yeas are 203, the nays are 224, the joint resolution is not passed,” speaker pro tempore said, announcing the final vote.

The House Joint Resolution introduced hours before the DHS funding deadline would have authorized temporary funding for the DHS for a period of three weeks. The measure was supported by a majority of Republicans, but failed to garner Democratic support.

Earlier on Friday, the US Senate voted to approve a $40 billion bill to fund the US Department of Homeland Security through September 30, 2015, and the bill was sent to the House. However, the House opted to proceed with a three-week funding extension.

The Senate-passed DHS funding bill does not contain any language to defund US President Barack Obama’s November 2014 executive order on immigration, which has become the main stumbling block of the debate.

The House has until midnight on Friday to authorize funding for the DHS or the agency will undergo a partial shutdown.